Consoles in 2026 are in a fantastic place, as long as you ignore all the price increases hitting the Xbox, Nintendo Switch 2, and PlayStation 5. Accessories have never been better, with some third-party controllers no longer the shoddy, weird MadCatz budget PS2 controllers your friend had to use. Better yet, some companies completely outperform Sony in some areas, like Dbrand, with its vast array of customization options. The PlayStation 5 has a wide range of official accessories made in-house. However, sometimes you can get a better deal elsewhere or an infinitely better option by shopping around. Why wait for…
Author: Amelia Scott
If you own an HP laptop, you’ve probably noticed the amber or orange light acting as a visual indicator. Depending on where it appears, the orange light can mean one of two things. If you see it near the charging port or on the front edge (next to other LED lights), it’s related to charging status or problems with the battery or adapter. On the touchpad, the orange light indicates it has been disabled. HP laptops with a Synaptics touchpad allow users to quickly enable or disable the touchpad feature directly on the touchpad. Keep in mind that an orange…
Wi-Fi 7 is the next iteration of the wireless standard, officially called IEEE 802.11be Extremely High Throughput. As the name suggests, it promises to improve Wi-Fi connectivity primarily by enabling more stable connections and faster speeds. Multi-Link Operation (MLO) is an important part of this upgrade, allowing simultaneous use of the three main bands, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, which you are probably familiar with, and the 6 GHz band. But instead of using these bands separately and treating them as exclusive channels, Wi-Fi 7 devices can use all bands to significantly improve the experience, in theory. Real-world applications may…
If you use Apple products, the company’s headphones are a great way to get the most out of your other devices. AirPods can do more than just play music, like live translation and hearing assistance, making them more than just wireless earbuds. There are currently three models of AirPods to choose from, ranging from headphones with or without tips to over-ear headphones. No matter what type of AirPods you have, there are plenty of cool accessories that will improve your overall experience. Some make your AirPods more comfortable to wear, while others offer greater protection to ensure your earbuds stay…
Apple has long made many necessary accessories that accompany its devices, one of the most essential being a power adapter. In the early days of the iPhone, Apple included a power adapter and cable with purchase. But those days are long gone, leaving users to find their own USB-C chargers and USB-C cables. The market for third-party USB-C chargers has also matured over the years, leaving plenty of options for Apple and Android users. Apple sells its 20W USB-C power adapter for $19, and while it can charge tablets as well as smartphones, it may not be the best…
When it comes to Alexa-powered smart speakers, Amazon’s Echo line is one of the most popular options. The original Echo debuted in July 2015 and inspired several generations of sister speakers, including the Echo Dot and Echo Pop: two of the least expensive products in the family. But when it comes to overall audio quality, is one of these two Amazon speakers the better choice? We compared the latest version of the Echo Dot (fifth generation) to the Echo Pop, and, generally speaking, most people agree that the Echo Dot offers better sound quality. It’s also worth mentioning that…
Anyone who travels by plane these days knows that there are some pretty important rules when it comes to packing. But along with the usual rules around weapons, liquids, and gels, portable power banks – and other electronic devices containing lithium-ion batteries – are facing increased scrutiny due to an increased risk of fire and burns from faulty batteries or misuse. The FAA reported 93 incidents in 2025, and 2026 is already seeing a peak, with 22 reported as of mid-April.In response, Southwest Airlines now requires passengers to keep portable chargers visible while in use, while Japan has completely banned…
Since its creation, Meta has not hesitated to buy various companies. From WhatsApp and Instagram to small, unknown companies that are now fully integrated, the social media giant has spent big money buying out the competition. More than 100 purchases were made, which owner Mark Zuckerberg said were always about attracting talent and not the company itself. In 2021, Meta changed its name from Facebook, marking a new era. The focus on booming technology sectors, such as virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI), has led to significant increases in bills. The company is expected to lay off 8,000…
If you want to buy electronic devices, there is no shortage of options. Retailers such as Best Buy and Amazon are popular, especially when you want the item delivered to your door. But if you want the best deals on electronics, your top choices are Costco and Micro Center. Each store has its own advantages, so none is objectively better than the other. Comparing the two is like comparing apples and oranges, except you won’t be interested in their specific benefits. Let’s start with the obvious: memberships. If you’re just looking to go in and buy something, Micro Center is…
For many people, cloud storage provides a safety net. You take a photo with your phone and by the time you’re done looking at it, it’s already saved to the cloud. However, saving your photos to the cloud isn’t the same as backing them up, and if you’re not careful, you could lose hundreds or thousands of gigabytes of photos. The main problem lies in how services like Google Photos, iCloud, and Microsoft’s OneDrive actually work. They are often marketed as both file synchronization and backup services. However, most people tend to use them only as file syncing services to…